Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Hylaeus sanguinipictus Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile semiluctuosa Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

Meroglossa rubricata are an Australian native species that are endemic to south-west and midwest Western Australia (with an obvervation on Atlas of Living Australia in the Northern Territory and South Australia).

Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Meroglossa rubricata are often called a solitary bee, though this is not necessarily true, as there is much evidence, especially from those who have “bee hotels”, that this species will nest in groups, with recorded evidence showing males sharing the same hole, females sharing the same hole, males and females sharing the same hole. There is even the possibility that the adult bees raise their young.

Female Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Female Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

This species take easily to “bee hotel” with many enthusiasts in Western Australia, reporting them taking up residence in their home gardens. They appear to like an entrance nesting diameter of an absolute minimum of 4 mm, with reports showing that they sometimes take time building up the opening to the nest with secretions that is brushed on with the tongue of the female bee. Within the nest they still need room to move inside.

Meroglossa rubricata, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Meroglossa rubricata, Geraldton, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

Meroglossa rubricata are found on a range of native flowers, especially in the family Mytaceae, among other flowering plants.

Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Meroglossa rubricata © Gary Taylor
Meroglossa rubricata Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Male Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Informal: Apiformes
  • Family: Colletidae
  • Subfamily: Hylaeinae
  • Genus: Meroglossa
  • Species: Meroglossa rubricata

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs Meroglossa rubricata, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
  2. Blogs: an awesome “Commando roll” | Ruby… bubbling | Ruby and the wasp | Party at the nest | red is the weakest, the first to fade in low light, by Gary Taylor
  3. Meroglossa rubricata, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Meroglossa rubricata
  4. Native rubricata hylaeine, Meroglossa rubricata, Australian Pollinators, PaDIL, https://www.padil.gov.au/pollinators/pest/main/138993

Native Bees — Batavia Coast and Midwest WAAustrothurgus  Euhesma Exoneura Hylaeus (Macrohylaeus) alcyoneus Hylaeus mysterium puella Hylaeus sanguinipictus Leioproctus Megachile aurifrons Megachile semiluctuosa Megachile (Thaumatosoma) duboulaii Meroglossa rubricata Thyreus waroonensis Trichocolletes

Insects — Batavia Coast and Midwest WANative Bees Wasps

The Batavia Coast and Midwest WAFauna

Western AustraliaWestern Australia Fauna Western Australia Flora The Batavia Coast and Midwest WA Bungle Bungles – Purnululu National Park Great Southern WA South West WA Stirling Range National Park